Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/909

 In claiming to be politically a disciple of Qokhale, I wieh correspondents will throw off the slavish habit! of writing anonymously, We, who are developing the Swaraj spirit, must? cultivate fehe courage of fearlessly speaking out our mind. The eubjeob-mabter of the letter, however, being of public importance, demands a roply, I oannob claim the honour of being a follower of the Jafce Lnkamanya. I admire him lik* millions of his countrymen for his indomitable will, his vasb learning, liis love of country, and, above all, the purity cf his private life and great sacrifiae. Of all the men of modern times, he captivated moss the ioaasiuafcion of his people, He breathed into us the spirit* of Svvaraj No one per- haps realifled the evil of the existing system of Govern- ment as Mr. Tilak did, And in all humility I claim to deliver his message to the country as truly as the basti of his disciples. Bub I am conscious that my method is not Mr, Tilak's methods and that is why I have still difficulty with some of the Maharashtra leaders, But) I sincerely think that Mr, Tilak did not disbelieve in my method. I enjoyed the orivilege of his confidence. And his last word to me in the presence of several friends was, just) a fortnight) before his death, that mine was an excellent method if the people could be persuaded to take bo it. Bub ha said he hai doubfea. I kuow no other method. I can only hope that when the final test comes, the country will ba proved bo have assimil- ated the method of non-violent non-co-operation. Nor am I unaware of my other limitations, I can lay no claim to scholarship. I have nob his powers of organisa- tion, I have no compact disciplined party to lead, and, having been an exile for twenty-three years, I cannot* claim the experience that the Lokamanya bad of India.

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